Are these guys the cutest family you have ever seen?! Oh my goodness! I truly love this family. About six months ago they moved to our sweet little Durango mountain town from Alaska, and from the moment they walked in the doors of our church, I knew I wanted to be friends with them! They are warm, kind, genuine, hilarious, and authentic.

It was such a joy and privilege to get to capture such a sweet time in their life ~ their beautiful little girl and one on the way! It was so easy to capture their love for one another … it just radiates from who they are.

These memories will be ones they treasure ~ because time really does fly by and these sweet little moments happen so fast.

Fall in Colorado definitely has my heart. The dreamy light and warm Indian Summer days are such a gift. So when you combine a beautiful fall day, sweaters, handsome little guys, and mountains … I couldn’t be happier! I love the Green family and have had the privilege of capturing them for several years in a row. Its so great to photograph them and capture their growth and changes each year.

Elizabeth is a wonderful friend and talented local business owner of Ellie’s Place, an inviting and beautiful salon. She’s been cutting my hair for years and I just love her! If you need a great haircut or someone to style your hair on your wedding day, she is your girl! Snuck a couple sweet headshots of her in at the end of our session together.

Weddings can sometime feel stressful and overwhelming to plan. With so many details to arrange and plans to make, the last thing you hope for on your wedding day is something unexpected. When I got a call a week before the wedding from Abigail, I could tell that something was up.

“Purgatory Ski Resort has had to close down due to the fire. We can’t have the wedding there anymore. We need to find a new venue for the wedding ceremony and reception,” Abigail explained over the phone. With the 416 Wildfire rearing its ugly head and burning because of a bad drought year, Purgatory was forced to close its doors for a couple of weeks to keep people safe.

With 10 days until their wedding, Abigail and Dylan re-planned their ceremony and reception, including two new venues and a new caterer. It’s not how they would have hoped to spend the days leading up to their wedding, but you know what? In that change of plans and the unexpected, I saw who they truly were. Two people who loved each other and their friends and family way more than any single wedding detail or plan. In the midst of a very crazy season, they held to each other, they opened themselves up to something new, and they laughed. I saw them let go of the details, and embrace the chance to cherish a day with those they loved.

And you know what? Their day was spectacular. Not just because of flowers, glitter, and table decorations ~ though all of those were amazing, but because of joy, laughter, love, and the presence of people they cared about.

It’s been said, “What matters most is how well you walk through the fire.” These two literally walked through the fire the leading up to their wedding, and proved their love was stronger than a couple of flames.

Abigail and Dylan ~ You two taught me the value of keeping the main thing, the main thing. You could have gotten lost in the details and the stress, but instead, you chose the right thing ~ the relationships around you and each other. You two have such ease, grace, and intimacy with one another. It was such a gift to capture you both on your wedding day! Thank you so much for the honor and invitation to capture your love.

xo,

Vanessa

The fabulous Durango Wedding Vendors who made this beautiful day possible:

Wedding days are filled to the brim with emotion. As they should be! Factor in the anticipation, planning, heart, close relationships surrounding you, and then committing your hear to the one you love. There’s no shortage of reasons to feel all the feels!

Cat’s wedding day was no exception … with so many loving people who surrounded her, beautiful details thoughtfully incorporated, and a stunning blue bird Colorado day. But Cat had another reason to feel extra emotion on her special day. As a child, Cat lost her Mom. And as you can imagine, on the day of her wedding, there was a longing for her Mom to be there. To see her in her dress. To see her walk down the aisle. To see her first dance.

From the very beginning, Cat was intentional about incorporating her Mom into her wedding day. Her Mom was a cherished, close, and meaningful part of the day ~ from the decorations, to the details, to conversation and talk about her throughout the day. I love the way Cat intentionally included her Mother. Someone she loves dearly and shaped who she is today.

And after having the honor of capturing Cat’s wedding day, I can say one thing for sure. Her Mom would have been so proud. She would have been filled to the brim with love and adoration for her daughter, for her beauty and grace, for her choice of a man to stand by her side.

What a gift it was to capture Cat & Jarrod beautiful June wedding. It was so dreamy ~ with blush tones, bits of sparkle, a ceremony in the sunshine, and a sunset walk through the field of peonies. Take a peek at their joy filled day. I think you’ll be able to feel Cat’s Mom smiling down.

A huge thank you to the fantastic team of Durango Wedding Vendors who made this day possible:

Cowboy boots and red lace dresses ... Marianne and Matt stole my heart with their sweetness and style. It was such a treat to capture an engagement session with these two. We got a gorgeous Colorado day with blue skies and puffy clouds ~ what a gift!

I can't wait to capture their wedding this September at Purgatory Resort! It's no secret that I absolutely LOVE fall weddings in Colorado and Purgatory is one of my favorite local Durango wedding venues.

Like a typical spring day in Colorado, the weather surprised us with a little snow and made Juan & Elyse's day even more magical. With Juan set to deploy in a few weeks, these two sweethearts took advantage of the time they had together before he left by sealing their vows. There is nothing quite as emotional as two young people in love ~ then add in an upcoming deployment, and you have me set up for some tears. I was so thankful to capture such an intimate day as these two began their married lives together.

It was also a special day because Marie, the bride's mom, is opening a new wedding venue here in Durango called the Reising Stage! If you're searching for a venue that combines a rustic, farm feel with elegance, hospitality, and open space ~ this is your spot! Marie was such a generous host for the event and I was so thrilled to see her vision come to reality as she hosted her first event at the barn... which was none other than her daughter's wedding. What a way to start! Check out the pictures of her beautiful event space below and go visit her website here to book your next event.

And last but definitely not least, we had GORGEOUS florals by the amazing Adela Floral. Natalie knows how to create stunning arrangements with color, texture, warmth, and glow. Her flowers add so much to any event. Brides, if you are on the hunt for a good florist, go visit Adela Floral's website here. She's not only talented, but incredibly sweet and kind. Check out her beautiful arrangements for this wedding:

Springtime in the desert ... an amazing couple full of laughter and love for each other ... and blue skies = one amazing engagement session!

Sam & Tristan are getting married in a couple of months and I cannot wait to capture their wedding at one of my favorite Durango wedding venues, Ridgewood Event Center! Brides, if you are looking for an amazing place to get married in southwest Colorado ... check them out. Beautiful outdoor ceremony location, gorgeous warm wood indoor venue for the meal and dance, and a great staff. Take a peek at Grant & Kaylee's gorgeous summer wedding that I photographed there a couple of years ago to see more.

As for this dreamy desert engagement session ~ Sam & Tristan were incredible. They were happy to hike, explore, and Tristan was happy to scramble up rocks in order to get to some fun spots. I love an adventurous, outdoorsy girl who is willing to explore and hike to out of the way spots, all while dunning an adorable floral dress and wedge boots. You're amazing, Tristan!

Check out some of Sam and Tristan's romantic and fun engagement session here.

I had so much fun with Sam & Tristan! They kept us laughing through the whole session ... right down to the last moment when they pulled out about a dozen "props" from their car that Tristan's mom had sent along for the session.

Sam & Tristan are my kind of people! They don't take themselves too seriously ... and feel so comfortable with each other. I can't wait to capture more of their joy, laughter, and amazing family and friends in a couple of months when they get married!

Sam & Tristan ~ You two are amazing. You are incredibly gifted people ... and yet so down to earth, kind to others and each other, and fill others around you with joy and laughter. The way you enjoy one another, your depth of friendship, and your connection will be such a gift for all the years to come. I can't wait for your wedding!

These two were amazing troopers on what turned out to be a snowy, adventurous day in Telluride! Sean reached out to me a few weeks before they traveled from Houston with an idea ... proposing against the stunning mountain backdrop of Telluride, Colorado, which he had seen years earlier in a romantic movie and thought would be the idyllic location to pop the question.

And it was! With flurries swirling around them, Sean got down on one knee and proposed to the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. And she said yes!

From there we got caught in the snowstorm of the century ... well, not exactly, but it sure felt like it at the time! Sean and Tammy were such good sports! They just rolled with the wind, the crazy snow, and the chilly temperatures.

It was an amazing day that I will never forget ... and I hope these images they have will remind them of their love for one another. And when the next storm hits in life, they'll know they have what it takes to cling to each other, laugh, and ride it out until the calm.

Sean & Tammy ~ Thank you for entrusting me to capture such a memorable, important day in your love story! You two are thoughtful, kind, creative, fun, and full of life. I wish you all the best in both the sunny days and snowy days to come! You two are a presence of light and good in this world ~ let your love shine brightly.

These two captured my heart with their sweet, tender love. They were so at ease with one another ... their love was like coming home.

And can we just talk about this arch?! And that light?! Wowzers. This was pretty much an engagement session dream and we had so much fun hiking around and capturing such a beautiful evening.

Dylan & Abigail ~ I cannot wait to capture your wedding this summer! You two are gracious and kind to the core. I appreciate your sweet love, full of laughter, and light. Cheers to an adventurous year ahead for you both!

I had so much fun meeting up with Austen & Nicole in the mountains a couple of weekends ago to capture their engagement session! Huge props to Nicole for adventuring through the snow in adorable wedge boots and a skirt! Now that is my kind of girl.

We hiked through the snow, bumped along some four wheel drive roads, and related over our love of good music and playing the acoustic guitar. These two are fun-loving and kind to the very core. I can't wait to capture their wedding day this coming summer at one of my favorite venues, Blue Lake Ranch. If you are looking for an amazing Colorado wedding venue, check them out!

A little shout out to all you future brides out there debating whether or not you should do an engagement session! Here are a few reasons why I LOVE capturing my bride and groom before their big day:

It puts you at ease with the photographer.

Instead of meeting your photographer briefly over coffee, or for the first time on your wedding day when nerves can be running high, its so nice to get to spend some time with your photographer at an engagement session. Engagement sessions are laid back, don't have a timeline, and allow for great conversation and interaction with your photographer. This will allow you to feel totally at ease with your photographer when your wedding day approaches, which is worth the money in my books. I LOVE the time I get with a bride and groom during an engagement session ... because by the wedding day we have built such a friendship and trust ~ which makes the wedding day even more special.

It allows you to express your personality and interests!

I love the chance to get to know my wedding couples in a space and environment that they love! I talk with the couple before their photos and ask them more about what is meaningful to them, and then find ways to incorporate that into their engagement session. This session is a great time to show of unique interests, places you love, or meaningful things that brought you both together in your dating relationship.

It gives you photos to use for your wedding experience.

There are so many ways to incorporate your engagement photos leading up to and into your wedding day! From Save-the-Dates, to guest book, to photos on your wedding website, to centerpieces on tables, to photos at the gift table ... the options go on and on! Its also a sweet way for your guests to see you both in a fun, natural setting ~ and often times guests may only know one of you, so this gives them a chance to get to know you both as a couple.

So, if you are engaged, I would highly recommend including an engagement session with your wedding photographer! They are photos you will treasure for years and years to come.